The final table action hasn't been filled with fast paced action to say the least. It's awfully quiet, and players seem tired after the grueling day they played yesterday. The pots are small so far, and we will stay on the lookout for some excitement!
Peter Matusik was up to 1.5 million at one point during this final table, but he's down to under a million after just losing a pot to Michael Guzzardi.
Guzzardi raised to 45,000 from the cutoff after which Matusik called on the button.
The flop came down 
and both players checked. On the turn the 
hit, and Guzzardi check-called 55,000.
The river brought the 
and Guzzardi checked again. Matusik bet 100,000 and Guzzardi snap-called. Matusik showed the good old 
, as he was playing the board. Guzzardi showed 
and took down this important pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
900,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
820,000
370,000
|
370,000 |
Michael Lo Giudice raised to 40,000 pre flop, and Peter Matusik called. The flop came down 
and Lo Giudice bet 100,000, Matusik called.
On the turn the hit and Lo Giudice moved all in for 661,000 chips. Matusik opted to fold leaving himself with 800,000 chips. Lo Giudice is still over a million.
The second level is almost over, with still nine players remaining. These are the latest chip counts.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,900,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
|
1,010,000
-61,000
|
-61,000 |
|
|
810,000
-10,000
|
-10,000 |
|
|
800,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
650,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
550,000
-40,000
|
-40,000 |
|
|
400,000
227,000
|
227,000 |
|
300,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
260,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
The first break of the day just started.
Level: 23
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
In a drastic turn of events we've just lost Peter Matusik in 9th place. Matusik was chasing a second ANZPT title after winning the Gold Coast event in 2011, but he will not be the first double winner just yet.
Michael Guzzardi raised to 48,000 from middle position after which Matusik called in the hijack. The other players folded, and the flop brought out 
.
Guzzardi decided to check the flop after which Matusik decided to move all in. Guzzardi double-checked his cards and made the call risking a very large portion of his stack.
| Michael Guzzardi |  |
| Peter Matusik |   |
Matusik was looking for a spade to win the hand right away, but the turn brought him no help. It was the 
, followed by the 
on the river. Guzzardi gave his buddies on the rail a little first bump as he took the remaining 682,000 chips from his opponent. He's now up to 1.5 million and second in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,500,000
690,000
|
690,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Anthony Aston raised to 55,000 pre flop and the action was folded to Paul Hockin in the big blind. He three-bet to 160,000 and that triggered Aston to move all in. Hockin snap-called and another big showdown was upon us.
| Paul Hockin |   |
| Anthony Aston |  |
The board ran out 
, and Aston was knocked out. Hockin jumps into the group of million-plus stacks which consists of four players now.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,150,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Igal Augarten was sitting on his short stack for quite some time, but he just decided to move all in for 312,000 chips. Chip leader Ashley Warner made the call creating the third all-in showdown within five hands.
| Igal Augarten |   |
| Ashley Warner |  |
The board ran out 
, and Augarten's pair of tens held up. Warner took a little hit but is still the chip leader with seven remaining players.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,650,000
-250,000
|
-250,000 |
|
|
650,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
The 23rd level of play is without a doubt the most exciting level we've seen all tournament. The biggest pot of the day so far was just played between three players, and Ashley Warner came out on top. He knocked out two players in the process, and has a huge chip lead heading into five-handed play.
Karan Punjabi was the short stack at the table and he moved all in under the gun for 275,000. Warner was to his direct left, and he made the call. The action was folded to Igal Augarten who snap-called this shove for a big portion of his stack. Three players went to the flop.
The flop brought 
, and Augarten moved all in right away.
"What the f***?" Warner said immediately as Augarten had moved in for 405,000 chips. Michael Guzzardi could not stop laughing at all this action, and the crowd closed in on the action when Warner decided to call.
| Ashley Warner | |
| Igal Augarten |  |
| Karan Punjabi |  |
Warner was well ahead to knock two players out, and the on the turn made his chances even bigger. The river brought the 
, and two players were knocked out! Warner raked in another massive pot as we are down to five players.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,600,000
950,000
|
950,000 |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted |
